Coating spray control



Nov. 14, 1944. H. L. PORCH COATING SPRAY CONTROL Filed July 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mum/roe 4 M10400 1.. Paw/1 A TTOQIVEY Nov. 14, 1944. H. L. PORCH COATING SPRAY CONTROL Filed July 19, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 n mm m S f E m \m o mm & hm u M 3 M k X 3 mrrsvraa:

' Irma v5) Nov. 14, 1944. H. L. PORCH- COATING SPRAY CONTROL Filed July 19, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wit 4E0 l 1 00671 Patented Nov. 14, 1944 COATING SPRAY CONTROL Howard L. Porch, Riverside, Caliifi, assignor to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application July 19., 1941, Serial No. 403,079

7 Claims,

My invention relates, to. the coating art and has special utility in the coating of fresh fruits and vegetables.

In the fresh fruit and vegetable packing indus, try it has been found advantageous to coat fruits and vegetables with a very thin coating of waxy material in order to preserve these fresh products from shrinkage during their travel to distant markets.

One of the most successful processes for coat ing fruit involves forming a solution of the coating material in a volatile solvent and then Sp ing this solution in highly atomized form onto the fruit. The solution thus applied is allowed to remain undisturbed on the skin of the fruit until the solvent evaporates, leaving a deposit of coating material on the fruit. I

The practice of coating fresh fruit is generally carried on. as'one of a series of steps through which the fruit is passed preparatory to its being packed. These include the steps of washing, drying, sizing and sorting the fruit, the fruit traveling in a substantially continuous flow through this series of operations.

Occasionally this flow of fruit is interrupted temporarily from one cause or another and where the coating material is being sprayed onto the fruit, as above outlined, it is very desirable that the spray of coating material be likewise interrupted until the flow of fruit starts again. If this is not done too heavy a deposit of coating material is likely to be applied to the first fruit to be processed after the flow of fruit is resumed, which deposit will impede the respiration of this fruit to such an extent as to spoil the flavor of the fruit and in some cases produce decay,

Attempts have been made to prevent overcoating the fruit but this end has not been attained without permitting some of the fruit to go by uncoated. 4

It is an object of my invention to provide an vice of my invention embodied therewith, this view showing an orange just leaving said ma.- chine and another orange just entering said ma chine, the entering orange being positioned to start a spray of coating material in the machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating a portion of Fig. 1 in which the device of my invention is embodied with the parts thereof disposed as when no fruit is entering said machine.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the control mechanism of my invention showing it positioned as when stopping the spray of coating material in said machine.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5'5 of Fig. 4, this view showing the clutch of said control mechanism engaged as when no fruit is entering the machine.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showingthe clutch of said control mechanism disengaged as by fruit entering the machine. I

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 'l--| of Fig. 5 and showing the switch opened and motor and spray shut 01f.

Fig. 8 is a similar vertical cross sectionalview taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 6', showing the switch allowed to close, motor and spray turned on.

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram of the electric circuit of the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawings, I have shown therein a spray waxer l0 including a recapparatus for spraying coating material on fresh products such as fruit in which the spray will be controlled so as not to apply an excessive quantity of coating material to any of the fruit and yet which will avoid permitting some of the fruit to go b uncoated.

The/manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects, as well as further objects and advantages, will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a fruit coating machine at present in current commercial use with a prefered form of the detangular housing ll, having a floor [-2, supporting legs 13, front and rear walls l4 and i5, side walls Hi and a top wall ll. Provided in the front and rear walls 14 and I5 are fruit inlet and discharge openings 20 and 2|, there being a delivery board 22 mounted along the lower edge of the opening 20 and inclined inwardly for receiving fruit delivered to the machine I 0, while a discharge board 23, inclined outwardly, is provided in the discharge opening 2| of the machine.

Mounted in a manner well known in the art, in the interior of the housing I I, is a roller conveyor 25, the upper flight 26 of which is disposed along an upwardly inclined path so that when this conveyor travels in the direction of the arrow 2-1 it receives fruit from the delivery board 22, conveys this along a path extending through the machine l0 and discharges this fruit onto the discharge drop board 23 over which the fruit gravitates from the machine. Provided in the end wall I4 is a motor housing 28 which contains a motor 29 for driving the conveyor 25.

Mounted on the top wall I! is a power spray unit 38 having nozzles 3|, this unit expelling from these nozzles streams 32 of fine atomized particles of a solution of coating material so that these particles travel directly from the nozzles 3| into contact with fruit traveling on the conveyor upper flight 28 within the zone 33 (see Fig. 1).

One of the walls I6 is provided with an air exhaust opening 40 which connects with a suction space 4| disposed just below the upper conveyor flight 28, the bottom of which is covered by a drip pan 42 in a semi-cylindrical wall 43 which connect together, as shown in Fig. 1, and extend entirely across the space between the side walls it. A suitable air blower (not shown) is disposed outside the housing H and connected with the opening 40 to evacuate air from the chamber to the suction space 41, thus drawing air downwardly between the rollers of the upper conveyor flight 28 while the machine is operated so as to prevent an accumulation of vapors of the solvent used in connection with the coating material applied by the machine [0.

The delivery board 22 has a depressible middle plate 50 provided with a finger the latter resting against the upper end of a rod 52 which slides in a collar 53 mounted on the wall It. The lower end of rod 52 is pivotally connected to an arm 55 of a clutch lever 56 of a control mechanism 5'! which is mounted on the floor l2 in the motor housing 28. Attached to the rod 52 and the wall [4 is a spring 58 which holds this rod and the depressible plate 58 in upward position, as shown in Fig. 2, excepting when one or more pieces of fruit F may be rolling across this plate. When the latter occurs, as shown in Fig. 1, the weight of this fruit causes the plate 50 and rod 52 to be depressed with results to be described hereinafter.-

The control mechanism 51 includes a rectangular shell 88 to the bottom of which is secured by bolts 6| a frame casting 62 having walls 63, 84, G5, 68 and 61 extending upwardly therefrom. Extending through suitable holes in the walls 65 and 68 and pinned in place is a clutch yoke shaft 78 on which the bifurcated lower end of the clutch yoke 56 is pivotally mounted. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this clutch yoke has screws with heads 12 which are located in closely spaced relation with the body of the yoke 58.

Mounted on the wall 8'! is a small motor 13 with a gear box 14, the latter gearing the motor 13 to a shaft I5, this latter being received axially in an opening in one end of a clutch shaft 16 and rigidly secured thereto by a set screw 11, said shaft having at its other end a portion 18 of reduced diameter which extends into and journals in a hole 18 in the wall 83. Freely rotatable on the shaft portion 18 is a cone clutch bell 80, this bell having pins 8| and 82 extending radially therefrom. Connected at its opposite end to the pin 8! and to the wall 65 is a contractile having a yieldable arm 88, the depression of 78 which brings this into engagement with a switch pin 80 which opens switch 88.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7, the inner end of the switch arm 88 extends into the rotational path of the clutch pin 82.

Splined on the shaft 18 is a clutch cone 8| which unites with clutch bell 80 to form a clutch 92. The clutch cone 8| has an annular flange 83 which extends between the clutch yoke 56 and the bolt heads 12.

The electric circuit of the machine I is shown in Fig. 9 where it is seen that coating material solution is fed to the nozzles 3| through a pipe 85, this pipe having a valve 86 controlled by a solenoid 81. Electricity is supplied from power lines L| and Ir-2 through conductors 88 and 88 to the timing motor 13 and the solenoid 81. The micro-switch 88 i located between the main line Ir-l and the conductor 88 so that when this switch is closed by the arm 88 being released from-pressure from the pin 82, current is supplied to the timing motor 13 causing this to run, and to the solenoid 91 causing this to open the valve 86 and permit coating material solution to be supplied through the pipe to the nozzles 3|, thus causing sprays of atomized particles of coating material solution 32 to be produced and directed against pieces of fruit F traveling on the upper conveyor flight 26 through the zone 33. Likewise, when the switch arm 88 is depressed, as when this is engaged by the clutch pin 82 so as to open the switch 88, this immediately shuts off the valve 85 and the timing motor 13.

Operation The particular process with which this invention is concerned is that covered by U. S. Letters Patent to Sharma No. 2,212,621. I

The problem involved is to so control the production of atomized particles of coating material solution 32 that all of the fruit F passing through the machine I0 will be properly covered with coating material, yet not permit an accumulation of this coating material on the rolls of the conveyor 25 during a break in the supply of fruit to the conveyor, so that when fruit is again supplied to this conveyor excess quantities of coating material are picked up by the fruit from the conveyor rolls, thus doing a bad job of coating the fruit and probably damage the fruit.

In the normal operation of the machine H) the fruit F is fed in a more or less continuous supply across the drop board 22 and is carried in a. continuous flow along the pathway lying just above the upper conveyor flight 25 and thence out of the machine over the drop board 23. Flowing along this path the fruit F passes through the coating zone 33 in which the fruit is subjected to the cones of atomized particles of coating solution 32 produced by the nozzles 3|.

When changing from one lot of fruit to another and in certain minor emergencies in the packing of the fruit, which are not of infrequent occurrence, there is a cessation of the supplying of fruit F over the delivery board 22 to the conveyor 25. As soon as the fruit is being delivered in a relatively constant flow over the delivery board 22 pieces of fruit F are rolling over and depressing the plate 50, as shown in Fig. 1. This movement is transmitted to the arm 55 and swings the clutch yoke 56, as shown in Fig. 6, thereby compressing the spring 84 and withdrawing the clutch cone 8| from the clutch bell 80. The clutch bell is thereby freed to be rotated by the spring 83 about its shaft 18 into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8 where the pin Bl has been control means normally actuated by fruit apbrought to rest against the stop pin 85. proaching said zone and responsive to a cessation When the clutch bell B is so positioned, the pin in the supply of fruit to said conveyor means to 82 is out of contact with the spring switch arm shut off said spray means; and delayed action 89 which causes the switch '88 to remain closed. means delaying said shutting off for a predeter- As already pointed out, while this condition exmined interval of time following said cessation. ists the motor 13 continues to rotate the shaft 15 said interval being sufiicient to permit the last of and the clutch shaft 16 and the clutch cone 9| the fruit supplied to said conveyor means prior splined thereon, and the valve 96 continues to to said cessation to travel into said zone and reremain open causing the nozzles 3| to spray coat- 10 ceive an adequate coating of coating material ing material onto the fruit. directly from said spray means before said spray Whenever there is any cessation of the supply means is shut off, said control means also being of fruit F to the conveyor 25, so that the depressiresponsive to the recommencing of said supply ble plate 50 is allowed to rise under the influence of fruit to said conveyor means to turn on said of the spring 58, as shown in Fig. 2, the clutch 5 spray means.

yoke 56 is brought into vertical position under 2. In a machine for spraying coating material the influence of springs 58 and 94, thus frictionon fruit, the combination of: conveyor means for any inserting the clutch cone 9| into the clutch producing a flow of fruit along a given path; bell 8!). As the shaft 16 is being continuously spray means for directing a spray of coating rotated by the motor 13 (although this rotation 20 material onto said fruit in a given zone of said is at a very slow rate of speed owing to the low path; means for supplying fruit to said conveyor gear ratio in the gear box 14) the clutch cone 9| means at a point just in advance of said zone; is also being rotated and this rotation is transcontrol means normally actuated by fruit supplied mitted to the clutch bell 80 whichif the plate 50 to said point as aforesaid and responsive to a remains in upper position, as shown in Fig. 2, cessation of the supply of fruit at said point to for a predetermined interval, results in the pin 82 turn ofi said spray means; and delayed action being shifted from the position in which it is means allowing said spray means to continue shown in Fig. 8 to the position in which it is operation a predetermined interval of time .folshown in Fig. '7 where it depresses the switch arm lowing said cessation, said interval being sufli- 89 and opens the switch 88. cient for the last of the fruit supplied to said As previously pointed out, opening this switch conveyor means prior to said cessation to travel izes the motor I3 and the solenoid 91 and into said zone and receive an adequate deposit of shuts off the va ve 96 thereby ca s g t e v y coating material directly from said spray means, of atomized coating material to the zone 33 to said control means being responsive to a recomcease immediately. 35 mencing of said supply of fruit to said conveyor The rest position of the pin 8| is so determined means to turn on said spray means. by the location of the adjustable stop pin 85 n 3. In a machine for spray coating articles, the the slot 8 th t he p ed d te of combination of: conveyor means for producing a time intervening between the cessation of the fl of articles along a given. path; spray means pp y of fruit o the conveyor 25 and the defor directing a spray of coating material onto energizing of the timing motor 13 and the solesaid articles in a given zone of said path; means noid 91 is such that the last of the fruit supplied for controlling said spray means, said control over the delivery board 22 to the conveyor 25 iS means being normally actuated by articles supcarried by the upper flight of this conveyor a plied to said conveyor means to prevent said consumcient distance into the zone 33 during this trol means turning off said spray means and interval so that this fruit has received an aderesponsive to a cessation of the supply of said quate deposit of coating material from the nozarticles to said conveyor means to shut off said zles 3| before the latter are shut oil by the de spray means; and delayed action means for deenergizing of the solenoid 91. laying the shutting off of said spray means fol- When the supply of fruit F to the upper flight lowing the cessation of said supply of articles of the conveyor 25 is resumed, the first piece until the last articles supplied to said conveyor of fruit to crossthe delivery board 22 depresses means before said cessation occurred travel into the plate 50 of this delivery board thereby imsaid zone a sufficient distance to receive an ademediately turning on the supply of coating matequate coating of said coating material directly rial solution to the nozzles 3| and causinga refrom said spray means. sumption of the application through these noz- 4. In a machine for spray coating articles, the zles of atomized particles of coating material to combination of: conveyor means for producing a any fruit traveling in the zone 33 on the upper flow of articles along a g n path; means for conveyor flight 26. Thus the initial fruit supplied directing a p y of Coating t a OhtO Said to the machine In on the resumption of operaa t c e in a giv n Zone of Said path; means 1 tions, after a cessation of said supply, is assured delivering articles to said conveyor means at a of receiving an adequate deposit of coating matepoint in advance of said zone; control means for rial directly from the nozzles 3|. turning on and shutting off said spray means, While I h v sho n an describ d a, single said control means automatically turning said bodiment of my invention, it is to be understood p y means o When Said control means is that various changes and modifications might be placed under restraint and automatically made in this without departing from the spirit ating to u Off Said Spray means after the lapel? of the invention and the scope of the appended of a pre-determined interval of time following lai the release of said control means; and means What I claim is: disposed adjacent to said point at which said 1, I a hi for praying coating t articles are delivered to said conveyor for actuarial on fruit, the combination of: conveyor means tion by Said articles to p a a d control means for producing a flow of fruit along a given pat under restraint as aforesaid whereby said spray spray means for directing a spray of co ti means, if turned off, is turned on by the delivery 'terial onto said fruit in a given zone of said path; 76 f i les to Said conveyor and whereby if no articles be so delivered during the lapse of an interval of time as aforesaid, said control means automatically operates through being unrestrained during said interval to shut on said spray means at the end of said interval.

5. In a machine for spray coating articles, the combination of: conveyor means for producing a flow of articles along a given path; spray means for directing a spray of coating material onto said articles in a given zone of said path; power operated means adapted after operating throigh a given cycle of movement to shut off said spray means; means automatically operating when unrestrained to initiate such a cycle of operation and adapted when placed under restraint to automatically restore said power means to its position at the beginning of a cycle of operation and to start said spray means if the latter had theretofore been stopped by said power means; means for delivering articles to said conveyor at a point in advance of said zone; and means adjacent the path of articles so delivered so as to be tem porarily engaged by said articles in passing, and responsive to such engagement to temporarily restrain said cycle initiating means as aforesaid.

6. In a machine for spray coating articles, the combination of: conveyor means for producing a flow of articles along a given path; spray means for directing a spray of coating material onto said articles in a given zone of said path; electrically operated valve means for turning on and shutting off said spray means; a switch for controlling said valve means; means adapted to be power operated to actuate said switch to shut 01! said spray means after said power operated means has been operated through a cycle covering a predetermined interval of time; a prime mover continually operating while said spray means is turned on; a clutch for connecting said prime mover to said power operated means, said clutch automatically closing to initiate a cycle of operation of said power means as aforesaid whenever released from restraint; means for supplying articles to said conveyor means at a point in advance of said zone: means disposed adjacent to said articles as the latter travel toward said zone and responsive to engagement therewith by said articles to place said clutch means under restrain to disconnect said prime mover from said power operated means; and means for automatically returning said power operated means to its position at the beginning of a cycle of movement as aforesaid when said clutch is thus thrown out, said switch means starting said spray means, in case the latter had been turned off, when said power operated means is thus returned to intial position.

7. A combination as in claim 6, in which said prime mover is an electric motor; and in which said switch means de-energizes said electric motor when said spray means is shut off and energizes said motor when said spray means is turned on.

HOWARD L. PORCH. 

